From Norway

Malcolm Pines – a Norwegian Appreciation

In 1982 Malcolm Pines was invited to conduct a seminar on group analysis at the Modum Bad hospital in Norway. That became a very significant event.

Though group psychotherapy had been used in psychiatric institutions for decades in Norway, in the early eighties there were still no formal training for group therapists.  Within the Norwegian Psychiatric Association there was a growing concern regarding the lack of competence among group therapists, and the need for a training program was emphasized.  But where to look for trainers?

After Malcolm Pines´ visit it became obvious that a training program in group analysis was what we needed.  A cooperation between IGA, London and the Psychotherapy Council of the Norwegian Psychiatric Association was established, and in 1984 a block training program in group analysis started in Oslo with trainers from IGA, London.  Malcolm was at that time already involved in the GA training program in Copenhagen, so he himself could not be engaged as trainer in Norway. But he played a significant role in organizing the program. His enthusiasm and continuous support of our training was very important for us.  In 1992 the IGA, Norway was founded and took full responsibility for the GA training in Norway.  When IGA, Norway started a second training program in group analysis in Bergen in 1999, Malcolm Pines was engaged as supervisor for the Norwegian training staff for several years.

Malcolm visited Norway many times, and for those of us who also met him regularly at international group analytic events all over the world, he became a dear colleague and friend.  He was always interested to hear about the development of group analysis in Norway.  He will be deeply missed.

Thor-Kristian Island
IGA, Norway
island@iga.no